23 May 2016
: Case report
Perioperative Diagnosis and Treatment of Serotonin Syndrome Following Administration of Methylene Blue
Unusual clinical course, Challenging differential diagnosis, Unusual or unexpected effect of treatment, Diagnostic / therapeutic accidents, Unexpected drug reaction, Educational Purpose (only if useful for a systematic review or synthesis)
James FrancescangeliE, Sonia VaidaE, Anthony S. BonaviaEDOI: 10.12659/AJCR.897671
Am J Case Rep 2016; 17:347-351
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Serotonin syndrome (SS) involves serotonergic hyperactivity caused by excessive activation of 5-HT2A receptors. As the use of antidepressants increases, so does the population of patients at risk for developing this complication. The diagnosis is made based on current serotonergic medication use in conjunction with certain clinical signs. The severity of the clinical presentation may vary, especially when the complication occurs while the patient is under general anesthesia. As a result, the incidence of SS is likely underreported and treatment may be delayed, leading to life-threatening complications.
CASE REPORT: A 67-year-old, American Society of Anesthesiologist physical status 3 male with multiple medical comorbidities, including anxiety/depression and chronic neck pain, presented for an elective laparoscopic total abdominal colectomy for colonic inertia. His intraoperative course was significant for SS likely triggered by the administration of methylene blue, which only became clinically apparent during anesthetic emergence. We considered and systematically ruled out other potential causes of his clinical condition. His management was primarily supportive, using hydration and benzodiazepine administration, and resulted in full neurologic recovery.
CONCLUSIONS: SS is an underdiagnosed condition with limited treatment options beyond symptom management. Thus, vigilance, early diagnosis, and cessation of offending medications are of utmost importance. Anesthesiologists managing at-risk surgical patients must have a high clinical suspicion of perioperative SS if their patients exhibit tachycardia, hypertension, and hyperthermia together with clonus, agitation, diaphoresis, or hypertonia. These signs may be masked by general anesthesia and may only manifest themselves upon anesthetic emergence.
Keywords: Anesthesia, General, Coloring Agents - adverse effects, Intraoperative Complications, Methylene Blue - adverse effects, Serotonin Syndrome - diagnosis
In Press
Case report
Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.947938
Case report
Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.947163
Case report
Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.949194
Case report
Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.948731
Most Viewed Current Articles
21 Jun 2024 : Case report
101,839
DOI :10.12659/AJCR.944371
Am J Case Rep 2024; 25:e944371
07 Mar 2024 : Case report
54,458
DOI :10.12659/AJCR.943133
Am J Case Rep 2024; 25:e943133
20 Nov 2023 : Case report
38,088
DOI :10.12659/AJCR.941424
Am J Case Rep 2023; 24:e941424
07 Jul 2023 : Case report
25,936
DOI :10.12659/AJCR.940200
Am J Case Rep 2023; 24:e940200